davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04

London society is, in sense, stage
struck. 1t takes the same sort of in
terest in associating with the ornaments
Of the stage as boys feel in making the
acquaintance of ballet dancers. There
10 a certain prurient prudishness, a
salacious inquisitiveness about London
society. 1t loves to hover over, or
alight on, the borderland which sepa-
rates conventional responsibility from
downright dissoluteness. There is
nothing which it so dearly loves as a
soupcOn of naughtiness. l never see
that well-known picture of two young
ladies peering into a volume which
they have taken down from shelf in
the paternal library = Forbidden
Fruit think it is called-and read
ing in it things which make them al
ternately smile and blush, without rec
ognizing the pictorial symbol, the en-
graved allegory, of London society.
What, to it, is the mystery OF holiness
in comparison with the mystery of sinP
Who would not sooner contemplate tie
lives of the sinners than the lives of
the saintsp London society is infinite
ly charitable, because its curiosity
knows no bounds. One of the reasons
why it welcomes actresses is that it
surrounds them, rightly or wrongly,
with halo of antecedents and envi-
ronment which leave much to the i'm
agination. Society in London. By a
E0reiQn Resident.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04
AFamoua Duel.

'sAn event which excited national
interest was Senator OWNS duel with
Congressman Joe McCorkle. McCorkle
represented a California district, and
fell deeply in love at Washington with
a Tennessee girl. but if she had any
affection for him it was alienated by
Mrs. Gwin, who was a beautiful and
accomplished woman, and superb
diplomatic. McCorkle's animosity was
aroused against Gwin in consequence,
and the feeling between the two Cali
fornia representatives was so intense
that the Washington papers at the
time published a great deal about the
affair. There was then only one ship
a month to the Pacific slope, and Gwin
and McCorkle, although so hostile.
went out home together. On board
their relations were very stiff and
stilted.
when the ship touched at Santiago
went aboard and accompanied them
to San Francisco. / was a friend of
both men, and endeavored to bring
about a reconciliation between them.
but as soon as we landed at San Fran
cisco McCorkle challenged Gwin to a
duel, and Gwin accepted.
Il called on Gwin the day after the
challenge, and he, having heard that l
had agreed to second McCorkle, ex-
claimed: MY God! major, are you.
my old friend, going to turn against
meP" / assured him that would take
no part in the affair. The sheriff. now
ever, interfered and prevented the duel
at San Francisco. Finding they could
not meet for the purpose there they
decided to 60 to Monterey and have
the duel at place about fifteen miles
out from the town.
''All the preliminaries being arrang-
ed for week prior to the time of the
encounter, each of the principals prac-
ticed assiduously with the rifle, and
there were number of spectators of
the practice shooting. Each man, too.
had his friends among the witnesses of
the others practice, and thus got ideas
of his opponents skill. Their shoot
ing in these rehearsals was magnifi-
cent, and everyone thought that one
or both of them would surely fall in the
actual encounter.
'On the appointed day Gwin and
McCorkle, accompanied by their sec
onds and friends, repaired to the Sc
lected spot, and the dreaded duel was
fought They were fifty or sixty yards
apart, and blazed away with rifles.
They tore each others clothes, but af-
ter firing seven shots had drawn no
blood. This did not satisfy them, and
they called formore ammunition. Then
discovery was made. The ammuni-
ton had been exhausted, and they
were fifteen miles from Monterey, and
about one thousand miles from any
where else. 1t was plain that the duel
was over for that day. In great DIS
gust, but still as venomous as ever,
the parties departed for San Francisco.
The differences between McCorkle and
Gwin were afterward adjusted. This
bloodless duel became historical, and
is one of the most famous in dueling
annals.
''Gwin soon left California, and l
never saw him afterward.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04
A Mean Trick.

witnessed a mean trick one night
last week. was returning home at
a. m. from prayer-meeting in Brook
lyn. There was Brooklyn newspa-
per man with me. We were passing
through very quiet dark street, with
rows of stately brick houses on either
side of the way. You couldn't tell one
from the other They were identical
in their outward looks, and there were
no numbers visible.
"Ah," said my journalistic friend.
.this is Judge Jones' club night"
why do you make that unprovoked
assertion" inquired.
because he lives in this row and l
see his sign out"
"His signP What do you meanp"
Look at the gate under the stoop
of this house. You remark futter-
ing scrap of linen tied to the bars?
Well, that's put there by the servant
that the Judge may identify his own
house when he returns home in the
small hours loaded to the muzzle. -"
That's an infallible scheme" said
/ in enthusiastic admiration of this de-
vice.
"Infallible?" repeated the waggish
Brooklyn journalist. Don't be so sure
of that Wait till the thing has stood
the test of time"
And with that he deliberately united
the linen signal and, walking two doors
down, tied it to the area gate of an
other house.
what did you do that for?" asked,
as he hurried me away.
ITO convince some people that they
are not as smart as they think them
selves" said he, with a chuckle.
But the Judge may be shot for a
burglar"
That will be no irreparable loss.
There are fifty persons anxious TO fill
his place. Offices never go begging in
Brooklyn, said the hardhearted Jester.
have been watching the papers for
an account of the accidental shooting
of Brooklyn Judge, but not line has
appeared. ! wonder how the Judge
got out of the scrape, anyhow. l
should like to have his story of the ad-
ventures of that early morning, but of
course l would not dare to ask him.
AelO York Star.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04
The Cost OF High Speed.

Some experiments have been made
lately upon the Bound Brook Route to
ascertain the difference in the consump-
ton OF coal between an express train
running on schedule time and the same
train run at very low speed. but 9th.
erwise under the same conditions, the
same fiye cars and precisely similar
engines being used. The trains ran in
each case from Philadelphia to Bound
Brook and back, a distance of 11s
miles. The slow trip was made in 3
hours % minutes, 4, APO pounds of coal
being consumed. The train stopped al
the same places as the regular express
train, the only unusual feature of the
trip being the funeral pace, averaging
q little over 124 miles an hour. When
running on schedule time the consump.
ton was 6.725 pounds, agreeing close
ly with the usual consumption on this
route with the regular five-car express
trains. The saving effected in coal by
running the train at very slow pace
was 2.305 pounds. The percentage OF
saving may be expressed in two WAYS:
as compared with the consumption at
the normal express speed, the slow
speed shows saving of S4.2 per cent,
while the consumption at the high
speed shows an increase over that al
the low speed of 521 per cent.
These figures show that high speed
is not SO expensive as is generally i'm.
agined. The speed of 1875 miles an
hour for through passenger train
making few stops is, OF course, imprac.
ticable, for various reasons. Probably
the difference in coal consumption be.
tween the lowest speed practically
possible under ordinary conditions and
a high express speed is even smaller
than the figures given, which represent
lower speed than is ever attained on
an ordinary railroad.
High speed to a certain extent d.
minishes both the number of men and
amount of rolling stock necessary to
carry given traffic; and this saving
must be set against the increase in
coal consumption and wear and tear.
In the case under notice, at slow
speed, the run of 119 miles would make
fair days work for both trainmen
and train; whereas, at the normal
speed, allowing for the necessary delay
at stations, switching, turning and
loading engine, etc., quite double the
mileage might be made in a day. As
enginemen are ordinarily paid by the
trip, this would not reduce their wages
unless some change were made in the
practice, but probably some change
would be made if runs which now re-
quire six or seven hours were reduced
to four or five. Double the amount of
rolling stock being required, the round
houses. etc., must be larger and the
sidings in which to store the cars must
be longer. The interest on the addi-
tional rolling stock and plant would
thus amount to quite large figure. In
some cases the slower train might
actually be the more expensive to run,
leaving on one side all questions as to
the convenience of rapid travelling and
its effect in increasing the volume of
travel. On the whole, the result of
these experiments seems to be strongly
In favor of high speeds for both passen-
ger and freight trains. -Railroad Ga
Eette.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04
The Misreuresouted Mole,

Who is there among dwellers in the
country who has not seen dead moles
hanging on sticks in the fields. or has
not heard Of farmers paying money for
their capture? A correspondent. how
ever, suggests that farmers may have
been making a serious and cruel mis-
take. II have had" he says. "a field
Of wheat full of moles all the year with
out doing il the least possible injury;
but, on the contrary. / verify believe
that up TO harvest they did my crop
good. Again. it is said moles eat seed
corn, but this Is a great mistake. for !
have examined the stomachs Of scores.
but never found single grain Of corn
in one Of them. ! believe 10000 BUSH
els Of seed corn are annually destroyed
by wire-worma The mole. Of course.
is great enemy Of this subterranean
pest. London Graphic.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04

Mrs. Parvenu was intently studying
an Egyptian war-map.
'Ah. my dear madam" inquired .
gentleman, ''are you posting yourself
in Egypt"
mo, not exactly. / thought l was
already quite cognizant of the typogra-
ply of the country. but 1 find I am
slightly sufficient on one point. at
least"
what is it, if may ask7"
"Why. l have just read that the En-
glish have reached an Ultimatum in
the land of the Polygamies. and don't
see it on this map. l knew about the
Beersheba. Suakim. Gondola. and the
other places, but Ultimatum is q new
one. Please see if you can find it for
me. l do so hate to be ignorant on
current tropics, you know.
The gentleman took the map and
looked for = few.minutes. but gave it
up finally, and told her he thought tho
map was defective. Merchant Traveller.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04
One of Lincoln,s stories.

President Lincoln used to speak in
parallels, and he often, by telling a
story to the point, got rid of persistent
applicants or chronic grumblels. On
one occasion gentleman was sent to
him from General Butler to demon
strate that there were union men and
union prisoners enough in the rebel
capital to take the town at any time.
He advised that Meade's army be en-
ployed to divert Lee while Butler was
sent to attack Richmond with a few
thousand men. This reminded the
President of a story he once heard out
in Illinois There was a theological
seminary short distance from town.
and a small bridge had to be crossed
on a bridge to get at it. The creek
had overlooked occasionally and car
ried the bridge away. The theologians
called meeting to see if they coulG
not find an architect who would build
a permanent bridge-one that would
resist the Hood and would not be swept
away every year. One brother said he
knew of such man, and sent for him
Immediately. The builder arrived and
was asked if he could bridge tho
stream. He replied with great empha-
sis that he ''could build a bridge clear
to hell II paid enough" The theolo-
glans, highly indignant, Immediately
dismissed him from their presence, and
the brother who had introduced him
was called upon to apologize for him.
Il am sorry for the offense he gave
you, BRETHREN" said he, but he Is
good architect, and really believe he
could build bridge to the place he
spoke OF, but ! wouldn't be sure Of the
abutment on the other side" So il
was OF the unionists in Richmond.
Lincoln believed Butler was a verv
good officer. but he had some doub.
about the other end Of the story. He
WASH so sure about the abutment in
Richmond. Ben. Periey Poore.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04

Mr.. Stetson. the New York theatre
cal manager. has made up his mind
that the skating-rinks are injuring his
business. and is planning ways to rem
edy the trouble. After q terrific effort
of intelligence. and q certain amount
Of conversation and refreshment at
Delmonico's. Mr.. Stetson has come to
the conclusion that skating is immoral.
at must be immoral" says MIR.
Stetson. lit interferes with my busi-
ness. Don't you think it is immoral,
Mr.. ThorneP"
.'Of course" answered the Rev. Mr..
Thorne; ''don't it take lot of custom
away from me. toop"
I'm give 5000 towards crippling
the Kinks" says Mr.. Stetson.
I'm give $780," says Mr.. Thorne;
'.but how are you going to manage ite"
Easy enough" says Mr.. Stetson.
"We'n have q law passed prohibiting
the opposite sexes from skating in the
same rink at the same time. It's just
as good exercise to skate without q
lady as with one"
Eyes; but it isn't as much fun" says
Mr.. Thorne. How'll you make 'em
see itP"
..Why." replies Mr.. Stetson. eff the
rink-keepers object to the arrange
ment. wen say that it's because they
depend upon the easy associations and
fiirtations of both sexes for their pat
ronage. and then they'll have to keep
still"
'sQuite right" assents the Rev. Mr..
Thorne. "quite right. Wen act in tho
cause of morality"
In such = spirit of lofty philanthropy
are great moral reforms instituted.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04
Greeley and the Mediums.

In the ante-telegraph days Hon.
Horace Greeley, whose handwriting
was atrociously bad, wrote to country
correspondent in relation to q lecture
engagement: "Will be with you on
Tuesday-or, if l can't, will rap"
Such, at least, was presumed to be the
tenor of the communication. At this
day the photograph" preserved as
curiosity, may be read in that way, as
well as in any other. The rap" hard
" needs explanation, but there may
be here and there person who does
not understand that traps" were once
on . time the only received method by
which the disembodied ''spirits" COM
inundated with the living. Perhaps
Mr.. Greeley thought, or pretended to
think, that he could induce some of
those imponderables to throw their
mysterious weight into the business.
He did not in this instance try. In
deed the famous founder Of The
Tribune, himself eminently practical
man, found the "spirits" impractical
bic for any sensible purpose. Always
ready to listen to anybody or to test
any new proposition, Mr.. Greeley hav-
ing attended a ''seance" offered
handsome engagement to the ''me-
dunn" 'lf," he said, 'you will give
me, daily, the London Mark Lane re-
ports. win pay for the exclusive in
telligence such price as will make 1t
worth your while" The reports were
not to be paid for until verified by the
then slowly transmitted foreign mail.
The medium declined the offer, and
Mr.. Greeley turned away from him
and called ''next" on the roll of eccen-
trio matters in which he loved to ex-
pertinent
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04

The Secretary Of the London SWIM
ming Club submits the theory that salt
water Is . cure for lunacy. ITO
battle" he says, ''before retiring 70
rest, after the heat and hustle Of the
day. would be q sure means Of induce
ing sleep-the happy. peaceful sleep Of
q child that would be an antidote 70
most Of the ills that flesh Il heir TO. no
forgetting lunacy, which l. induced By
want Of Slssp."
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04

General "Jeb" Stuart's little daugh-
ter used to ride ON horseback TO her
fathers camp and give him challenge
TO run race. Aud then away thew
would 90, madcap fashion, over fences
and across fields. This daughter
Miss Virginia Pelham Stuart, was mar.
ried at Staunton, Va, a few DAYS AGO
% Robert Page Waller. Of Norfolk.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04

James G. Richardson, of Lake City.
Mimi, has invented several contriv-
ances so that while lying in bed, by
pulling wires, he feeds his horses,
lights the kitchen fire, and opens tho
draughts of the baseburner in the
sitting-room. Mr.. Richardson is from
Connecticut.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04
Just behold and read attentiYeIV

Wilkes irish Specific" has cured Cancors u
GERS, CataIrh, Tgmors Rheumatism, Neuralgia, in
all their forms. Consumption, scrofula Old SORES,
diseases all impurities Of the blood, uor other
diseases II has and can cure, send for circusrs.l
This medicine Is put up in different size bottles,
anteed All we ask Is fair trial. Address QscIos.
ing stamp) NJ. NJ Wilkes q Co., Atlanta, Fulton
County la. Lock Box ST.
De-5old by Druggists and Agents. ia
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04

A change offs mills per ton a mile
in the freight rates current on the
Michigan Central means TO that road q
gain n gross earnings Of e1,00O,OO0 =
rear.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04

: At the Mob Hill residence Of Sem
atOr Stanford, in San Francisco, are
fifteen pictures Of his dead boy, eight
Of which are by Bonnet, Of Paris, and
twice lie size. The portraits cost $780,
o00
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-07-24
JONI RESoLu ZION NO. I.

A Joint Resolution relative to tie afbitra-
ton of alleged taxes in arr ars under the
charter and supplements of the Morris
and Essex Railroad Company.
L Be it resolved by the Senate and GeRl
eral Assembly of the State of New Jersey,i
That all matters in difference between the
State of New Jersey and the Merits and
Essex Railroad Company. and the Dela.a
ware, Lsekawanna and Western r iiiroad;
Company, its less se, of all ged taxes IN ar.
rear arising under the charter and supple
ments of the Morris and Essex Railroad
Company, shall be and the same are hereby
submitted to the arbitration of two arbitra-
tors, one of whom shall be chosen in wri-
ting by the Governor, and the other by
the said companies in writing, and whose
award, (after being duly sworn, bea ing
and determining said matter, in diff rencel
shall be final conclusive and binding upon
the state and said companies. Tue sal
adbitrators shall be chosen ali their APP
pointments- I'll I'd in the office of tho secrs-
tary Of state within tn ryy days from tns
passage of this resolution. The award shall
be made in writing and filed in the said
Office. The said arbitr ttors shall have
power to swear and ex mime. witnesses. All
necessary expenses on the Part of the state
shall be allowed by tha comptroller on thu
approval of the governor.
?. And be it resolved, T rat this joint
resolution shall take effect immediately.
Approved March %, 1887.
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-07-24

being had to their character and circula-
ton. provided, however, that the total
number of all newspapers in the stats
authorized to publish the laws shall NOT
exceed one hundred; and provided furthar
that IN the aggregate no more newspanars
snail be designated which represent one
leaclng political party than those which
represent the other leading political marty
.: And be it enacted, That no neyspaner
snail be selected under this act which has
not been regularly and continuously pnb-
ilshed Previous TO such selection f5r the
space of eighteen months.
And be it enacted, That after snch
selection and designation the secretary of
state shall send out copies of all public
laws 10 the newspapers entitled to publish
them as soon ss said laws are enacted.
D. Ana be it enacted, That tie rate os
compensation to be paid by the state for
the publication of the laws shall be a sum
to be liked by the governor and eomptroI-
lar not TO exceed fifty cents per folio. but
no compensation shall be Eail to any news
paper which prints the laws from plates.
unless such plates are cast In It's own off ss
for its own use.
b. And be 1t enacted, That all acts or
parts of acts by which the newspapers en-
nssed to publish the laws ere to be desig-
mated in. any other way than herein set
torthy or which contrdvene ony OF the pro
visions of this act, shall be rep called. and
that this act shall take effect immediately.
APpsoved May 6, 1887.
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-07-24
CHAPTER CLXXXI.

An act relative to the publication of the
laws of this state in the newspapers.
l, Belt enacted by the Senate and Gu
eral Assembly of the State of New JERSEY,
That the public laws OF this state passed at
each session of the Legislature shall be
published in the newspapers in the several
counties, to be selected and designated as
hereinafter provided.
2 And be it enacted, That the governor
and comptroller shall, within ten days ats
ter this act shall become law, and there
after annually within thirty days after the
day fixed in January for the convening of
sae legislature, select and designate the
newspapers to publish the laws upon the
flllovi G basis:
l. To select as many in each county as
there are representatives from that county
| in both branches of the legislature, not ex-
| ceeding six, such selection to be of an equal
number of newspapers representing each
| of the two leading political parties, having
| reference also to such of them as have the
larger circulation:
II In case after ouch election it appears
there are any legislative districts in tEis
/ state in which no newspaper has been des'
| ignated to publish the laws, at least oAe
newspaper in such district may be deslg-
mated; and in case also it appears that
there are IN the Stale cattess Towns o1 ooh-
ouehs having population of at least i've
Thousand according 10 the latest Official
census, in which no newspaper or but one
newspaper has been designated, the gov
ernor and comptroller may, at their dis
erection, select aud designate newspapei
or newspapers. net exceeding two, IN an.
such cities, towns or boroughs;
III. Besides the selections and design
tons already mentioned, II shall be lawfl
for the governor AMI comptroller, at thei
discretion, to selecs and designate to pub
fish the laws other newspapers at large i
the state, without regard 10 their repre-
senting political parties, but reterenc